Animal-feeding device.



w. 3., F. LITTLE. ANIMAL FEEDING DEVICE- APPLICATION man MAY 23. ms. 1,286,676. Patented Dec. 3,1918. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. B. F. LITTLE.

ANIMAL FEEDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23. l9l8 Patented Dec. 3, 1918.-

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Tap STAWENT caries.

'WILLIAMBENJ'MON FRANKLIN LITTLE, OF BAILEY, ARKANSAS.

ANIMAL-FEEDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Application filed May 23, 1918. Serial No. 236,155.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAMB. F. Lrr- TLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bailey, in the county of Independence and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Feeding Devices; and I "do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will en-- able others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to animal-feeding devices, and it relates more particularly to an improved portable and knock-down feed rack.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device of this character which N combines great strength and durability, or

i this, character which is entirely independent of any extraneous upright support, and

which eliminates the use of a partition between animal stalls;

' Another' object is to provide a device of 5 this character whichmay be easily con-- structed by any person of ordina'rymechanical ability withoutthe use of'expensive tools and machinery; V

, Another object is to provide adevice of this character which consists of few and simple parts, and may. therefore, be'cone strncted at very slight cost.

Other objects and advantages may become apparent to persons who. read the following details of description in connection'with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device which constitutes the vpreferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is atop plan viewof'the same;

Fig. 3 is a'longitudinal central vertical sectional view along the line 8-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4is an end elevation;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section along the line 5--5'of Fig. 1; and 1 Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the two forms of sheet metal channel members or trough elements employed inthe construction disclosed in the other figures of the drawings. 2

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters corre- Patented Dec; 3, 1918.

spond with similar parts throughout the several views, the device consists broadly of,

three upright supports 7, u sheet metal members 8 and 9, three vertically disposed plates 10, four grating elements 11, rods 12, a central rod 13 and bolts 14.

' Each of the upright supports 7 comprises a pair of crossed-bars 15 which are halved at theirmiddle portions and fittedtogether as indicated at 16 so that two opposite faces of one ofthe bars 15 are fiu'sh with the corresponding surfaces of the other bar of the pair. In other words, these crossed bars are notched or mortised. at their middle portions to form shoulders which combine with one another to prevent angular movement of the bars with relation to one another so long as they are fitted together as shownat 16;

In order to increase the rigidity of each support 7. its legs are apertured for the reception of bolts 14 which extend'therethrough and through corresponding apertures of a bar 18. The bar 18 of each support 7serves the dual function of supporting the outer side of the sheet metal elements 8 and 9 and rendering the support more rigid. Each of thesheet metal members 8 and 9 isformed with an arch 19' at its middle portion, downwardly diverging elements 20,- horizontal elements 21 and vertical'outersides orwalls 22. Each of these elements '8 and 9 is notched at 23 so as to receive the crossed portions of the adjacent bars 15, so that the inclinedend portions 20 rest upon the inclined or downwardly diverging surfaces 24 of the supports 7 while the horizontal por tions 21 rest upon the horizontal-bars 18 which extend thereunder froma portlon'of the supports? below their crossing. Moreover, the arch 19 of each member 8 and is I "supported by the rod 13 which extends thereunder and through alined apertures in the crossings of the supports and in the plates 10, The rod 13 is provided with a head at one end and screw-threads at Its other end, and this rod may be in screwthreaded engagement with one of the vertical plates 10, so that by turning the red by means'of its square heads, the several upthe. device together.

From the foregoing, it will beseen that y the plates form end walls tovthe channels ormedin the members 8 and 9,'so as to combills with these members in forming two troughs at opposite sides of the central rod 13'. 'Theseplates 10. extend to the tops of the supports. 7 and also formend walls of the provender racks of which'the gratings l1 7 form the I 7 sides.

In: order'ht'o support the provender gratings '11, and also to increase the strength and. rigidity of the entire device, the four rods 12 are extended through alined apertures in the supports 7, plates 10 and gratings 11, The rods 12 may be provided with nuts, .or 'they'may-be in'threadetl engagementwith one of the platesll0,.so that they-may be operated ashas been described for. the belt or. rod 13, and maybe re-,- moved srotas to allow removalzof'the grating elements 11' in the operation of collapsing or knocking down the device.

:Although ,I have described this embodimentof myinvention very-specifically, it is not intended to limit this invention to these [exact details of construction,- but I and entitled "to make changes. within the scope of the inventive idea disclosed in the foregoe ing description and; followingocla'ims:

What-I claim asiny invention is: x l- An animal-feeding device comprising spaced, verticalsupports, a horizontal rod seeur-ing'said supports to one another, V6:

, ti aliplates each in a fixed position'on said supports, and a sheetmet'al member having with the-latter-to form'troughs on opposite sides-ref said rod, said sheet metal member ts middle. part extending over and suppertedgby said rod; and, extending laterally therefromfand'providing channels which-ten minateat'said vertical plates and combine beingimovable with relation to said vertical plates.

- 2.; The cdmbinationof pairsof crossedup-w right. bars ;v horizontal bars, each :of the hori z nt l-barsbeing sec r d to th respec i crossed harsof a pair and t e eby securin them in rigid'relation to one another; a sheet metal member comprising channels and being supported by said horizontal bars; and a ,horizontal rod securing said pairs of crossed bars and horizontal bars and sheet metal member together in a unitary structure.

The combination of pairs of crossed upright bars; horizontal bars, each of the horizontal bars being secured to the respective crossed bars of a pair and thereby securing them in rigid relation to one another; a sheet metal member comprising channels and being supported by said horizontal bars; vertical sheet metal elements securedzto said pairs of crossed upright, bars and. forming end Walls of said channels; and means s cu i'ng saidrpa'irs of crossed bars and horizontal bars and sheet-me al mem er and ertical sheet metal elements together in a unitary structure, a

a. The combinatio of pa s f crosse up right bars;- horizontal bars, eachof the hori zontal bar-s being secured to the respective crossed bar-S. of apair and therebysecuring them in rigid relation to one another; a sheet metal-member comprising channels and beingsuppbrted by said horizontalbars; and

a horizontal rod normally secured to said pairs of'crossed bars, and beingefl'ective to secure saidpairs of crossed bars and her-i! zontal bars and; sheet metal member and sheet metal elements together in a unitary structurethatiscollapsible upon removal of saidrodrthe latter being-quickly n easi'ly removable ;;f-rom said crossed bars.

The combinationofa pairofupright supports each having downwardly diverg ing-supporting; surfaces, and an integral sheet metal member formed with channels and with-downwardlydiverging surfaces at the ends of thechannels, said surfaces'ofthe sheet metal member being normally seated on and supported by the supporting surfaces ofsaid supports. 1, p 6. The combination'of a pair of upright supports each having downwardly diverging supporting surfaces an integral sheet metal memberf formed withjchannels and with downwardly diverging surfaces at the endsof, thechannels, and-bars secured to said upright supports and extending hori; zontally beyond the diverging surfaces thereof and supportingthe outersidesof i said channels, said diverging surfaces of theisupports being fitted underv the diverge ing surfaces of. said sheet m etal member so as to support 1 6 a 7. The combination of a pair of upri ght supports; each having downWardlydive -gs ing-supporting surfaces, an integral sheet metal member-formed. with channels and with downwardly diverging surfaces ,at the s. he; Qh nael tbar e a adf a s the. inner sides ofsaid chansaid divergin Copies of this patent may be obtained for beyond the diverging surfaces thereof and supporting the outer sides of said channels,

surfaces of the supports bein fitted unc er the diverging surfaces of said sheet metal member so as tosupport the inner sides of said channels, and a rod normally securing said upright supports together and supporting the middle of said plate.

8. The combination of normallyupright pairs of crossed bars; normally horizontal bars, each of said horizontal bars being secured to a pair of the crossed bars below their crossing; a pair of channels normally supported on said crossed bars and horizontal bars; gratings normally secured to the crossed bars above their crossing; and a plurality of rods normally extending from one to the other of said pairs of crossed bars and securing them together and supporting said gratings.

9. The combination of normally vertical pairs of crossed bars; normally Vertical plates disposed on and arallel with said bars; normallyhorizonta bars, each of the latter being disposed on one of said lates below the crossing of the adjacent ars; means common to each pair of crossed bars and the adjacent plate and horizontal bar for securing them together to form a unitary support; a channeledmember supported by the unitary supports thus formed; grating elements each provided with valined apertures; and rods each normally extending through said unitary supports and alined apertures of one of said grating elements and securing them together in such relation that said vertical plates combine with said gratings and with said channeled member to form a provender rack and troughs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM 'BENJMON FRANKLIN LITTLE. Witnesses W. H. EDENS, J. M. ALEXANDER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0." 

